Parents, students and community members can all work as volunteers in the media center.
Planning for Volunteers
Volunteers can perform the following tasks in the media center: (Remember that tasks given to student volunteers should be dependent upon their age and ability.)
· Arrange displays/bulletin boards · Assist with book fairs · Assist with inventory · Check in/process magazines · Check out materials · Clean and straighten · Photocopy materials · File catalogs · Help to locate materials · Laminate materials · Mend books · Organize materials · Process new materials · Read to/with children · Shelve materials · Work with students on research, technology, etc.
Parent Volunteer Recruitment
Media specialists should actively recruit parent volunteers for the media center. In some schools, parent volunteer recruitment is handled by the PTSA. If not, the following strategies may be helpful:
· Speak at the first PTSA meeting or Back to School Night on the opportunities and rewards of volunteering in the media center · Make volunteer recruitment forms available as part of the registration information. · Send a recruitment form home to all parents (some PTSAs send home an interest sheet for parents to let them know of the many ways they can volunteer at their child’s school. Make sure volunteering in the Media Center is on the list)
Student Volunteer Recruitment
Media specialists can actively recruit student volunteers for the media center. The following strategies may be helpful:
· Student volunteers can be recruited at all levels through your feeder high school service learning program · Brochures and applications can be sent home with students · Work with your guidance counselor/classroom teachers to locate and utilize those students who need a place to belong
Suggested Activities for Students:
- Shelve books - Log on and off to OPAC at beginning and end of day - Sharpen pencils, water plants - Deliver books to teachers - Pick up trash and straighten shelves - Check in and out books after a private training - Display books and help create displays - Organize Magazines--file, check in, stamp, place in protectors - Deliver and pick up book baskets for daily class returns - Become part of a Student Media Advisory Group--share programming ideas, recommend books
Earning Volunteer Hours
Student aides, students earning Student Service Learning hours, (Form 560-50, Request for Student Service Learning (SSL) Preapproval, or Form 560-51: Student Service Learning Activity Verification), and community volunteers also contribute to the school library media program.
Retaining Volunteers
Suggestions for retaining volunteers:
· Be flexible; remember that they are volunteers, not paid employees · Make your volunteers feel appreciated · Remember that satisfied and happy volunteers can be the best advocates for the library media program
Sources:Created by Kelley Fujii, based on Frederick, and Montgomery County volunteer procedures.
Volunteers, Students & Parents
Parents, students and community members can all work as volunteers in the media center.
Planning for Volunteers
Volunteers can perform the following tasks in the media center: (Remember that tasks given to student volunteers should be dependent upon their age and ability.)
· Arrange displays/bulletin boards
· Assist with book fairs
· Assist with inventory
· Check in/process magazines
· Check out materials
· Clean and straighten
· Photocopy materials
· File catalogs
· Help to locate materials
· Laminate materials
· Mend books
· Organize materials
· Process new materials
· Read to/with children
· Shelve materials
· Work with students on research, technology, etc.
Parent Volunteer Recruitment
Media specialists should actively recruit parent volunteers for the media center. In some schools, parent volunteer recruitment is handled by the PTSA. If not, the following strategies may be helpful:
· Speak at the first PTSA meeting or Back to School Night on the opportunities and rewards of volunteering in the media center
· Make volunteer recruitment forms available as part of the registration information.
· Send a recruitment form home to all parents (some PTSAs send home an interest sheet for parents to let them know of the many ways they can volunteer at their child’s school. Make sure volunteering in the Media Center is on the list)
Student Volunteer Recruitment
Media specialists can actively recruit student volunteers for the media center. The following strategies may be helpful:
· Student volunteers can be recruited at all levels through your feeder high school service learning program
· Brochures and applications can be sent home with students
· Work with your guidance counselor/classroom teachers to locate and utilize those students who need a place to belong
Suggested Activities for Students:
- Shelve books
- Log on and off to OPAC at beginning and end of day
- Sharpen pencils, water plants
- Deliver books to teachers
- Pick up trash and straighten shelves
- Check in and out books after a private training
- Display books and help create displays
- Organize Magazines--file, check in, stamp, place in protectors
- Deliver and pick up book baskets for daily class returns
- Become part of a Student Media Advisory Group--share programming ideas, recommend books
Earning Volunteer Hours
Student aides, students earning Student Service Learning hours, (Form 560-50, Request for Student Service Learning (SSL) Preapproval, or Form 560-51: Student Service Learning Activity Verification), and community volunteers also contribute to the school library media program.
Retaining Volunteers
Suggestions for retaining volunteers:
· Be flexible; remember that they are volunteers, not paid employees
· Make your volunteers feel appreciated
· Remember that satisfied and happy volunteers can be the best advocates for the library media program
Sources:Created by Kelley Fujii, based on Frederick, and Montgomery County volunteer procedures.